Ski boot heel binding device



Jan. 20, 1970 GIICHI SHIMIZU 3,

SKI BOOT HEEL BINDING DEVICE Filed June 12, 1968 3 Sheets-Sheet 1 Um m. "rim 1M 42 261 4 6 3 i/ 4/ j J5 5 551 GIICHI SHIMIZU ATTORNEY INVENTOR Jan. 20, 1970 GIICHI smwzu SKI BOOT HEEL BINDING DEVICE 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed June 12, 1968 GIICHI SHIMIZU \YL 30 INVENTOR 4 2a 3 i 2/ BY 7% I7 26 l? 73 I7 ATTORNEY Jan. 20, 1970 cucm smmzu 3,490,783

SKI BOOT HEEL BINDING DEVICE Filed June 12, 1968 3 Sheets-Sheet 3 INVENTOR GIICHI SHIMIZU BY WL 2 W! ATTORN- *Y United States Patent O 3,490,783 SKI BOOT HEEL BINDING DEVICE Giichi Shimizu, Tokyo, Japan, assignor to Ever New Inc., Tokyo, Japan Filed June 12, 1968, Ser. No. 736,389 Claims priority, application Japan, June 23, 1967, 42/53,957 Int. Cl. A63c 9/084 U.S. Cl. 280-11.35 4 Claims ABSTRACT OF THE DISCLOSURE A ski boot heel binding device comprising a casing in the form of a box having a base and a pair of sidewalls provided with aligned slots and a rear wall and opening at the front and top; bracket means pivotally connected at one end to said sidewalls of the casing in the upper portion thereof; a unitary ski boot heel engaging or securing unit pivotally connected in the upper portion to the other end of said bracket means and including a holding-down means, a spur and a coupling integrally formed with said spur and connecting the spur to said holdingdown means; said coupling being in the form of a box less wide than the space between said casing sidewalls and having a top wall, a pair of sidewalls, and front wall while opening at the rear and bottom; a pin for operating said ski boot heel engaging unit transversely extending through said sidewalls of the coupling adjacent to the lower edge of the coupling and having the opposite extreme ends received in said casing sidewall slots; a latching lever and release assembly pivotably connected to said casing sidewalls and having means for retaining said operation pin in position; and an adjustable spring for normally urging said latching lever to the operation pin retaining position.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION The present invention relates to an improved ski boot heel binding device, and more particularly to a ski boot heel binding device of the type which when the user steps with his ski boot into the binding device automatically secures the binding device to the heel of the ski boot and which can be opened at will, for example by slight pressure with manual force or a ski pole, or alternatively, can automatically open when any external force is abruptly applied on the binding device. According to one aspect of the present invention, a holding-down means which is adapted to engage the heel of a ski boot from the top is integrally and adjustably connected to a coupling which has an integral spur adapted to engage the heel from below so as to form a unitary boot heel engaging or securing unit and thus formed unitary engaging unit is pivot-ally connected to the stationary casing of the binding device by means of a pair of parallel brackets one end of each bracket being pivotally connected to the unitary engaging unit, the other end being pivotally connected to the device casing. According to another aspect of the present invention, the above-mentioned unitary boot heel engaging unit is pivotally connected to the stationary casing of the binding device by means of a single bracket one end of which is pivotally connected to the engaging unit, the other end being pivotally connected to the device casmg.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PRIOR ART In one prior art ski boot heel binding device a spring loaded-casing is slidably mounted on the support plate or mount fixedly supported on the ski for back and forth movement along the support plate so that the casing may closely follow the movement of the heel of the ski boot secured in the binding device and the casing is normal- 3,496,783 Patented Jan. 20, 1970 1y urged forwardly or against the back of the boot heel by the force of a coil spring which is disposed in a compressed state within the casing. The slidable casing supports on its front end surface a vertically movable holdingdown means which engages the upper rear edge of the boot heel and a depressible spur which engages the bottom of the boot heel and which is vertically spaced from the holding-down means. When the user steps with his boot heel into such a prior art binding device the holding down means automatically descends to engage the upper rear edge of the ski boot heel and at the same time the slidable casing abuts against the back of the boot heel by the force of the spring whereby the boot heel may be firmly held in position within the binding device by the cooperation of a conventional holding-down means for the toe of the boot with the heel binding device. However, in the prior art boot heel binding device, when the user steps with his ski boot heel into the binding device, as the holding-down means which is now in a position high above the upper ridge of the boot heel descends down to abut against the upper rear edge of the heel the holdingdoWn means frequently hits against the back of the heel, upper ridge or other undesired points on the heel resulting in improper holding of the boot heel.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The above disadvantages may be overcome by an arrangement in which when the ski boot heel binding device does not hold the boot heel therein, the mouth defined by the holding-down means and spur may be positioned in an inclined position with the angle of inclination increasing toward the boot heel which is being inserted into the device so that the heel may be conveniently inserted into the device: however, with this arrangement, it is rather difficult to obtain a proper angle of inclination for the mouth. If the mouth cannot be positioned at a suitable angle with respect to the heel the misalignment of the holding-down means with the boot heel will become worse. In another attempt to eliminate the above difliculty, the holding-down means and spur are arranged in such a manner that the mouth defined by the two constructural elements may be turned sideways with respect to the axis of the ski when the mouth receives the boot heel thereby decreasing the frequency of the misalignment of the holding-down means with the boot heel. However, this arrangement inevitably makes it diflicult to properly position the boot heel within the mouth after insertion of the heel therein.

A further attempt to eliminate the above disadvantage is to arrange the holding down means and spur in such a manner that the mouth defined by the two constructural elements may widen gradually as the elements move rearwardly, but such an arrangement necessarily requires a complicated mechanism for widening and narrowing the mouth. Furthermore, the arrangement has an inherent disadvantage in that if the user fails to step with his boot heel sufficiently deep into the mouth, the holding down means may bite the upper rear edge of the heel.

In an attempt to eliminate the disadvantages inherent in the prior art ski boot heel binding devices referred to above, I have proposed an improved ski boot heel binding device which constitutes the subject matter of U.S. Patent No. 3,366,394 issued Jan. 30, 1968. My previous ski boot heel binding device disclosed in the above-mentioned U.S. patent basically comprises a spring-loaded casing slidably mounted on a ski for back and forth movement along the ski; a holding-down means pivotally connected to said casing and adapted to abut against the upper rear edge of the heel of a ski boot; an integral spur pivoted to said casing and adapted to engage the bottom surface of said heel, said holding down means and spur cooperating to define jaws having a fixed opening therebetween for accommodating said heel; and a pair of parallel brackets for pivotally supporting at their one ends said holding down means and spur and pivotally connected at their other ends to said slidable casing, said pair of brackets being movable between a first position in which they are in a substantially horizontal and parallel relation and a second position in which they are in a substantially vertical and parallel relation. However, the ski boot heel binding device of the above US. patent is rather complicated in construction and consequently the operation of such a device is also rather complicated.

Therefore, one object of the present invention is to provide an improved ski boot heel binding device which can effectively eliminate the above disadvantages inherent in the prior art ski boot heel binding devices.

Another object of the present invention is to provide an improved ski boot heel binding device which utilizes some of the advantages of my previous ski boot heel binding device constituting the subject of the above US. patent, but is simpler in construction and operation.

Another object of the present invention is to provide an improved ski boot heel binding device in which a pivotal unitary ski boot heel engaging or securing unit is pivoted to the boot heel securing position when the user steps with his ski boot heel into the binding device and when it is desired to release the boot heel from the heel engaging unit a slight pressure is exerted on a spring loaded latching lever and release assembly so as to pivot the boot heel engaging unit to the heel releasing position, such pivotal movement of the boot heel engaging unit being assisted by a pin and slot arrangement.

DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS The above and other objects and attendant advantages of the present invention will become apparent to those skilled in the art from a reading of the following detailed explanation of the invention in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, wherein FIG. 1 is a side elevational view of a preferred form of a ski boot heel binding device embodying the present invention showing the position of the device in which the binding device firmly holds the heel of a ski boot (not shown) therein;

FIG. 2 is a top plan view of said ski boot heel binding device of FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is a longitudinally sectional view of said ski boot heel binding device taken along the line AA of FIG. 2 and as seen in the arrow direction therein showing the position of the device in which the binding device firmly holds the heel of a ski boot therein;

FIG. 4 is a side elevational view in partial section of said ski boot heel binding device showing the position of the device in which the device is ready for receiving the heel of a ski boot thereinto or has just released the heel therefrom;

FIG. 5 is a side elevational view of a modified form of ski boot heel binding device embodying the present invention showing the position of the device in which the binding device firmly holds the heel of a ski boot (not shown) therein;

FIG. 6 is a longitudinally sectional view of said ski boot heel binding device of FIG. 5 showing the position of the device in which the binding device firmly holds the heel of a ski boot therein; and

FIG. 7 is a side elevational view in partial section of said ski boot heel binding device of FIG. 5 showing the position of the device in which the binding device is ready for receiving the heel of a ski boot or has just released the heel therefrom.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS Referring now to FIGS. 1 through 4 which illustrate a preferred or first embodiment of ski boot heel binding device according to the present invention, reference nu- 4 meral 1 generally indicates the stationary casing or support member of the binding device and the casing is fixedly mounted on the top surface of a conventional ski S extending along the longitudinal direction of the ski. The casing 1 is in the form of a box which opens at the t0p and fore end and includes a base 1' and a pair of parallel similar vertically and longitudinally extending opposite side walls 3 and 3 whose lower edges 3' and 3' extend outwardly substantially at right angles With respect to the vertical portions of the side Walls so as to form flanges on the opposite sides of the casing 1. The flanges 3' and 3' with the base 1 are secured to the top surface of the ski S by any suitable means such as bolts 4 which are in turn theadably received in mating threaded bores (not shown in the ski S whereby the casing 1 is fixedly mounted on the ski. Each of the side walls 3 and 3 is provided with an arcuate slot or guide slot 5 extending substantially vertically of the associated sidewall adjacent to and inwardly spaced from the leading edge of the side wall and the arcuate slots 5 and 5 are in alignment with each other. A pair of parallel and laterally spaced brackets 6 and 6 are pivotally supported at one end on a transverse pivot pin 7 in a space defined by the upper portions of the inner surfaces of the opposite side walls 3 and 3 and the pivot pin horizontally extends through and has the opposite ends suitably supported in the side walls. The other ends of the brackets 6 are pivotally supported on another or second transverse pivot pin 8 which in turn horizontally extends through the opposite side walls 10 and 10 of a coupling 9 and has the opposite ends suitably supported in the opposite side walls 10 and 10 of the coupling 9. Thus, it will be understood that the coupling 9 is also pivoted on the second transverse pin 8. In the illustrated embodiment, the coupling 9 is in the form of a vertically disposed elongated box having the top, front and opposite similar side walls and opens at the rear and bottom. The width of the Coupling 9 is smaller than the distance between the inner surfaces of the easing walls 3 and 3. A spur 11 is integrally secured to the front of the coupling 9 and extends forwardly substantially at right angles with respect to the front wall and the rear lower portions of the sidewalls 10 and 10 of the coupling 9 are covered by the leading edge portions of the casing walls 3 and 3. The coupling 9 has further a holding down means 12 secured to the coupling front wall with a toothed rack 26 interposed therebetween above the spur 11 in a vertically spaced relation to the latter so as to define a space for receiving the heel of a ski boot A therein. The front wall of coupling 9 is provided with an elongated slot (not shown) extending a substantial distance in the height of the front wall for the purpose which will be described hereinafter. The rack 26 also has an elongated slot (not shown) in registration with the slot of the coupling front wall. The opposite side edges of the rack are provided with rack teeth as shown in FIG. 1 for the purpose which will be described hereinafter. The width of the rack 26 is greater than that of the coupling 9 and is received in a mating recess 12" formed on the rear surface of the holding-down means 12. The holding down means 12 is of a substantially U- shape configuration as seen from above (see FIG. 2) and has opposite arms 12 downwardly extending to substantially the midpoint of the height of the coupling 9 and a connecting portion which connects between the inner ends of the arms and also downwardly extends the same distance as the arms along the height of the coupling 9. The bottoms of the opposite arms 12' of the holding down means 12 taper toward the leading edges of the arms. The opposite side walls of the recess 12" are provided with teeth (not shown) for engagement with the side edge teeth of the rack 26. The connecting portion of the holding-down means 12 is also provided with a threaded through bore (not shown) for receiving an adjustable screw 26 which also extends through the slots of the rack and coupling front wall whereby the position of the holding-down means 12 relative to the spur 11 may be adjusted by manipulation of the adjustable screw 26' so that the ski boot heel binding device may accommodate ski boot heels having different sizes therein. Thus, it will be understood that the coupling 9, spur 11 and holding down means 12 form an integral ski boot heel engaging or securing unit for movement as one body. A transverse pin or bar 13 horizontally extends the opposite coupling side walls and 10 adjacent to the lower edge of the coupling 9 and has the opposite ends fixedly supported in the coupling sidewalls. The opposite extreme ends of the transverse pin 13 are loosely received in and are adapted to be guided along the armate slots 5 in the casing sidewalls 3 and 3 for the purpose which will be described hereinafter. A latching lever 14 extends from the rear of the casing 1 to a position where the leading edge of the fore arm of the lever partially covers the arcuate slots -5 and 5 in the casing side walls 3 and 3 and the lever is pivotally supported on a third transverse pivot pin 15 which in turn horizontally extends between and is suitably supported in the casing side walls 3 and 3 at substantially the midpoint in the height of the casing sidewalls 3 and 3. The other 01' rear arm of the latching lever 14 extends to the rear wall 3 of the casing 1 and has an integral release 16 riveted to the rear end thereof and the rear end of the release extends through the rear wall 3 for the purpose which will be described hereinafter. The outer surface of the fore arm of the latching lever 14 is curved by a substantial distance so as to form a cam face 17 and an inwardly offset recess 18 is formed on the forearm outer surface extending from the lower end of the cam face 17 to the lower edge of the associated arm outer surface so as to form a shoulder 19 at the juncture between the cam face and recess. The inner surface of the fore arm of the latching lever 14 is provided with a pointed lateral projection or spring seat 20 for receiving one end of a coiled spring 21 the other end of which is received within a spring casing 22 which is in turn provided below the latchng lever 14 between the fore arm of the lever and rear wall 3" of the casing 1. The casing rear wall 3" has a circular'opening (not shown) through which an adjustable screw 23 extends. The above-mentioned spring casing 22 has a rear wall having a threaded bore (not shown) through which the shank of the adjustable screw 23 threadably extends into adjacent several turns of the coil spring 21 in a press fit relation to the inner surfaces of the spring turns whereby the spring and screw assembly normally urges the fore arm of the latching lever forwardly. As it will be easily understood, the force which urges the lever fore arm forwardly may be adjusted by turning the adjustable screw 23 in either direction with a suitable tool such as a screw driver, for example. Reference numeral 24 indicates a ski boot bottom engaging piece having a plurality of laterally spaced projections thereon and fixedly secured to the top surface of the ski S by any conventional means and reference numeral 25 also indicates a pair of laterally spaced ski boot bottom engaging pieces each having laterally spaced projections thereon and similarly fixedly secured to the top surface of the ski S. Reference numeral 27 indicates a pair of covers (only one cover 27 is shown in FIG. 1) each of which covers the associated slot 5 in each casing side wall 3.

In operation, it is assumed tha the novel ski boot heel binding device is in the position as shown in FIG. 1 in which the transverse pin 13 and 13 on the coupling 9 is seated at the bottoms of the slots 5 and 5 in the casing side walls 3 and 3 and held down by the shoulder 19 in the latching lever front arm under the force of the adjustable spring 23, the fore ends of the pair of brackets 6 and 6 being posiitoned somewhat lower than the rear ends of the brackets and the spur 11 and holding down means 12, when in their lowest position, leaning forward at a small angle with respect to the top surface of the ski S. When the release 16 integral with the latching lever 14 is pulled upwardly manually or by any other suitable means against the force of the spring 23 with the binding device positioned as described just above, the latching lever 14 is caused to pivot on the transverse pivot pin 15 in the counter-clockwise direction as seen in FIG. 4 so as to force the pin 13 out of the shoulder 19 on the latching lever 14 whereupon the pin 13 is allowed to spring up to the upper ends of the slots 5 and 5 being guided by the cam face 17 on the latching lever 14 whereby the ski boot heel binding device may assume the position shown in FIG. 4 in which the brackets 6 and 6 may assume that substantially upright position and the coupling 9 and accordingly, the spur 11 and holding down means 12 lean rearwardly at a small angle with their leading edges positioned higher than their trailing edges. When the user steps with his boot heel A into the binding device maintained in the position as shown in FIG. 4, the boot heel engaging unit including the coupling 9, spur 11 and holding down means 12 and the brackets 6 are forced to pivot in the counterclockwise direction on their pivot pins 7 and 8. As the coupling, spur, holding-down means and brackets pivot in the manner as described just above, the pin 13 in the coupling 9 which is now at the upper ends of the casing slots 5 and 5 is forced to slide down in the slots in slidable contact with the cam face 17 on the latching lever 14 against the force of the spring 23 until the pin 13 reaches the shoulder 19 on the lever where the pin is again seated and held in position by the force of the spring 23 which urges the fore arm of the latching lever 14 forward. At the same time the pin 13 is seated and held in position at the shoulder 19, the boot heel engaging unit is also locked in the position shown in FIG. 3 with the boot heel A firmly held between the spur 11 and holding down means 12 whereby the holding down means 12 may firmly hold the rear edge of the boot hee A from above and the spur 11 may firmly engage the bottom surface of the heel as shown in FIG. 3.

With the above arrangement of the novel ski boot binding device, the disadvantages inherent in the similar prior art ski boot binding devices are effectively eliminated. For example, in the prior art binding device of the type in which when the user steps with his ski boot heel into the binding device the holding down means and spur are forced to lean backward so as to widen the mouth defined therebetween for easy accommodation of the boot heel. But when the boot heel engaging unit, including the holding down means, spur and coupling connecting the first-mentioned two parts to each other leans backward, the rear bottom edge of the ski boot heel has a tendency to hit against the coupling thereby pushing the coupling further back to the extent that the holding down means may be positioned undesirably low with respect to the upper edge of the ski boot heel against which the holdingdown means is adapted to abut thereby making it impossible to properly hold the heel by means of the holding down means. Furthermore, in such a prior art ski boot heel binding device since the thus backwardly inclined holding down means is urged against the heel, the holding down means tends to bite the back of the boot heel.

In contrast, in the ski boot heel binding device according to the present invention, although the holding down means and spur of the boot heel engaging unit are held in a rearwardly inclined position for easy accommodation of the heel of a ski boot at the time the user places his ski boot heel into the binding device, after the user has stepped into the device the holding-down means and spur are caused to pivot from the rearwardly inclined position through the horizontal position and then to the final forwardly inclined position in which the ski boot heel is firmly and properly held between the holding down means and spur. The pivotal movement of the boot engaging unit including the holding-down means and spur can be smoothly effected by the spring-loaded mechanism and the boot heel can be firmly and properly held in position within the binding device until the pivotal movement of the boot heel engaging unit has reached the lowermost point of its downwardly pivotal stroke. Similarly, release of the ski boot heel from the binding device can be smoothly effected by the reverse pivotal movement of the boot heel engaging unit which is made more quickly than the downward stroke being assisted by the same spring-loaded mechanism. Thus, the disadvantages experienced in the above-mentioned prior art ski boot heel binding device are effectively overcome by the present invention.

FIGS. through 7 illustrate a modified embodiment of ski boot heel binding device according to the present invention. It is understood that the same reference numerals and characters are used for the corresponding structural parts as in the first or preferred embodiment of FIGS. 1 through 4. In the various modifications, the arrangements and constructions of the parts of the ski boot heel binding device are substantially identical with or similar to those of the corresponding parts of the first embodiment of ski boot heel binding device except for several parts and therefore, description will be given only for the parts peculiar to the modified embodiment and the parts associated with the peculiar parts. The parts corresponding to those in the embodiment of FIGS. 1-4 and having modified constructions are indicated by the same references with addition of primes thereto.

In the modified embodiment, a single bracket 6' is employed in place of the pair of brackets 6 and 6 in the first embodiment and the single bracket horizontally extends between the opposite side walls and 10 of the coupling 9 which has the integral spur 11 at the lower edge extending at substantially right angles with respect to the front wall of the coupling. One end of the bracket 6' is pivoted on the transverse pivot pin 7 which in turn extends through and is suitably supported in the opposite walls 3 and 3 of the casing 1 and the other end of the bracket is also pivoted on the transverse pivot pin 8 which in turn extends through and is suitably supported in the opposite side walls 10 and 10 of the coupling 9. The opposite sidewalls 3 and 3 of the casing in this modified embodiment are provided with inclined straight slots 5' and 5' adjacent to and inwardly spaced from the leading edges of the associated sidewalls, respectively extending a substantial length up the walls instead of the arcuate slots 5 and 5 found in the first embodiment. The transverse pin 13 extends through the side walls 10 and 10 of the coupling 9 and the side walls 3 and 3 of the casing 1 and the opposite extreme ends of the pin 13 are received in the respectively associated slots 5" and 5 in the casing sidewalls. One end of spring 28 abuts against the underneath of each extreme end of pin 13 for normally urging the pin upwardly and the other end of the spring is suitably anchored to one of the casing side walls 3 and 3. A screw supporting rack 29 having a threaded through bore (not shown) is disposed spaced from the inner surface of the rear wall 3" of the casing below the latching lever 14' which has the release 16 pivoted to the rear end thereof. An annular knurled stop 30 is threadably mounted on the shank of adjusting screw 23 between the casing rear wall and screw suppporting rack for adjustably limiting the movement of the screw. The coil spring 21 is disposed between the fore arm of the latching lever 14' and screw supporting rack 29 in a compressed condition with one end received on the pointed lateral projection 20 provided on the inner surface of the lever fore arm and the other end abutting against the rack 29. In this modified embodiment, one of the sidewalls 3 and 3 of the casing 1 is provided with a window 31 through which a portion of the knurled periphery of the stop 30 projects out of the associated sidewall for access in order to adjust the force of the spring 21 which urges the fore arm of the latching lever forwardly as desired. Furthermore, in

this modified embodiment, the latching lever 14' is not provided with the recess 28 and shoulder 29 on the outer surface of its fore arm as seen in the first embodiment and instead a second cam face 17' is contiguous to the lower edge of the first cam face 17 and extends to the bottom edge of the lever fore arm increasing its inclination angle downwardly. Thus it will be understood that when the ends of pin 13 are positioned at the bottoms of the slots 5 and 5 in the associated casing side walls 3 and 3, the pin is abutted and held in position by the second cam face 17 of the lever fore arm which is spring-loaded. Still furthermore, in this modified embodiment the latching lever 14' and release 16 are not integrally formed with one another, but are formed as separate members. A link 32 is pivotally supported at one end on a transverse pin 33 which projects outwardly from one side of release 16' and the other end of the link is also pivotally supported on a similar transverse pin 34 which projects outwardly from the same side of lever 14 as that from which the pin 33 projects. Thus, it will be understood that in this modified embodiment the direction in which the release 16' is operated for the release of the heel of a ski boot is opposite to that in which the release 16 of the first embodiment is operated for the same purpose; that is, in order to release the ski boot heel from the binding device of FIGS. 5 through 7, the release 16 is depressed down by a ski pole, for example, the release 16 is then pivoted in the clockwisedirection on the pivot pin 35 which extends through the casing sidewalls 3 and 3 and release 16' so as to cause the link 32 to pivot in the clockwise-direction on pins 33 and 34. The pivotal movement of the link 32 is transferred to latching lever 14' to cause the lever to pivot on the pivot pin 15 in the counter-clockwise direction whereby the pin 13 is released from the second cam face 17' to ride on the first cam face 17 whereupon the pin 13 is caused to spring up to the upper ends of the slots 5' and 5' in the casing sidewalls 3 and 3 by the action of the spring 28 so that the binding device may assume the position as shown in FIG. 7 in which the bracket 6' may assume its substantially upright position and the boot heel engaging unit including the coupling 9, spur 11 and holding down means 12 may assume its rearwardly inclining position with the leading edge of the spur and holding down means positioned higher than the trailing edge thereof, ready for the release of the boot heel out of the binding device. In this modified embodiment, the rack 26' having teeth on the opposite side edges is secured to the inner surface of the front wall of the coupling 9 and the upper end of the rack extends along the inner surface of the top wall of the coupling to substantially the midpoint of the length of the coupling top wall. The arrangements and constructions of the other structural elements of this modified embodiment are the same as those of the corresponding elements of the first embodiment and detailed description of them is omitted herein. Similarly, the operation of this modified embodiment of ski boot heel binding device may be also easily understood from the foregoing description of the structural elements of this embodiment when read in conjunction with the description of operation of the first embodiment.

As mentioned above, when the user places his ski boot heel into any of the above-mentioned two embodiments of devices, the boot heel engaging unit including the coupling, spur and holding-down means which is then leaning back somewhat gradually descends while gradually pivoting on the pivot pins to lean forward and as the unit is descending in the manner mentioned just above the pin 13 also descends down the slots 5 and 5 or 5 and 5' in slide contact with the cam face 17 on the latching lever 14 or 14' and therefore, the placing of the ski boot heel on the binding device can be smoothly effected without requiring any effort on the part of the user or skier. Release of the ski boot heel from the binding device can be promptly effected by simple actuation of the release 16 or 16' manually or by pushing with a ski pole. No special tool is required. And if any external force is suddenly applied on the thus received ski boot heel to dislocate the boot heel while the skier is skiing as that is, when the skier falls, for example, the pin 13 immediately springs up to the upper ends of the casing wall slots against the force of the spring which holds the pin in place so as to cause the boot heel receiving unit to pivot to the releasing position and he may be effectively protected from an injury such as bone fracture which would otherwise be inevitable.

While two preferred embodiments of the invention have been shown and described in detail it will be understood that they are for the purpose of illustration only and are not to be taken as a definition of the invention, reference being had for this purpose to the appended claims.

What is claimed is:

1. A ski boot heel binding device comprising a casing adapted to be fixedly mounted on a ski and having a base and a pair of parallel side walls each having a guide slot extending vertically in the associated sidewall; a pair of parallel brackets each pivotally connected at one end to the upper portion of the associated casing side wall; a unitary ski boot heel engaging unit pivotally connected in the upper portion to the other ends of said pair of brackets, said unitary ski boot heel engaging unit including a holding-down means, a spur vertically spaced from said holding-down means and a coupling integrally formed with said spur and connecting between the holding-down means and spur for unison movement; an operation pin for said unitary boot heel engaging unit laterally extending from said coupling in the lower portion thereof and having the opposite ends received in said casing sidewall slots; and a spring-loaded latching lever and release assembly pivotally connected to said side walls of the casing and having a cam face and a pin retention portion for engaging said operation pin to hold said unitary boot heel engaging unit in the boot heel securing position and for releasing the operation pin to allow the unitary boot heel engaging unit to pivot to the boot heel releasing position.

2. A ski boot heel binding device as set forth in claim 1, in which said latching lever and release are unitarily formed.

3. A ski boot heel binding device comprising a casing adapted to be fixedly mounted on a ski and having a base and a pair of parallel side walls each having a guide slot extending vertically in the associated sidewall; a single bracket pivotally connected at one end to the upper portion of each of said casing side Walls; a unitary ski boot heel engaging unit pivotally connected in the upper portion to the other end of said bracket, said unitary ski boot heel engaging unit including a holdingdown means, a spur vertically spaced from said holdingdown means and a coupling integrally formed with said spur and connecting between the holding down means and spur for unison movement; an operation pin for said unitary boot heel engaging unit laterally extending from said coupling in the lower portion thereof and having the opposite ends received in said casing side wall slots; a springloaded latching lever and release assembly pivotally connected to said side walls of the casing and having a first cam face and a second cam face for engaging said operation pin to hold said unitary boot heel engaging unit in the boot heel securing position and for releasing the operation pin to allow the unitary boot heel engaging unit to pivot to the boot heel releasing position; and a spring abutting against one end of said operation pin for positively urging said unitary boot heel engaging unit to the boot heel releasing position in response to the release action of said latching lever and release assembly.

4. A ski boot heel binding device as set forth in claim 3, in which said latching lever and release are separate members pivotally connected to each other.

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 3,361,435 1/1968 Hvam 28011.35

FOREIGN PATENTS 969,365 4/ 1965 France.

LEO FRIAGLIA, Primary Examiner JOHN A. PEKAR, Assistant Examiner 

